Archived Fishing Report

Dave Stewart's Fishing Report

Written by Dave Stewart |
Originally published 06/19/2014

Kentucky Lake: Water Level at Kentucky Dam - 359.08 Surface Temperature - 81
Lake Barkley: Water Level at Barkley Dam - 359.10 Surface Temperature - 81
Both lakes are back at summer pool levels after having been drawn down over the past week. Kentucky Dam has generated between 14,000 cfs - 43,000 cfs today. Barkley Dam has generated between 8100 cfs - 26,000 cfs today.
No doubt summer has arrived here in the lakes area with heat indexes around 100 during the afternoon every day this week. The lakes reached summer pool levels on the drawdown a couple of days ago. Since the lakes reached summer pool, the current has decreased and now we are getting current mostly during the afternoon and early evening hours during the heat of the day.
We are still getting some good bags of bass without the current but the numbers of limits boated per day has dropped for us the past couple of days as we were out when no current was present. Our best bag and numbers came for us on Monday with current when my client had over 7 limits of keepers with the best 5 going 30lbs with an 8lb Largemouth and a 6lb Smallmouth in that bag. It was a day I am sure my client will remember for many years as will I.
I expect we will see some very good bags in the FLW Tour tournament here next week as the pro's take to the water out of Paris Landing. I have seen a lot of White Bass activity again this week around the mouths of the bays on Kentucky Lake and also on flats adjacent to the river channel. Mayflies have been hatching all week and this has the Bluegills and Whites very active around overhanging trees in the creeks and bays during the early morning hours.
The weather forecast is calling for more hot and humid days through the first of next week so make sure you bring plenty of cold water, sports drinks and your sunscreen if you are going out on the lakes. The forecast for tomorrow is for a high of 89 and low of 72 with a 50% chance of scattered thunderstorms. The wind forecast for tomorrow is WSW at 9. Saturday is calling for a high of 91 and low of 69 with a 20% chance of rain and wind NW at 7.
Sunday's forecast is a high of 93 and low of 69 with wind NNE at 3. Monday remains hot with a high of 95 and low of 71 with a 40% chance of scattered thunderstorms with wind SW at 7. The extended forecast through mid next week shows high's in the mid 80's low's in the high 60's with a chance of scattered thunderstorms each day.
This is the time of year when we can get some nasty pop up storms during the heat of the day so angler's should keep and eye on the sky and find a safe port when these storms approach. These summer storms normally have a lot of nasty lightning and localized high winds.
LARGEMOUTH BASS: Largemouth are being taken on ledges on the main lakes as well as around the mouths of the deeper creeks and bays. These fish are being taken on deep diving crankbaits, spoons, swim baits, Carolina rigged creature baits, Texas rigged large worms and dragging football head jigs. Largemouth are also being taken on primary points, secondary points and channel banks in the creeks and bays.
These fish are being taken on crankbaits, swim baits, Carolina rigged creature baits Texas rigged large worms and jigs. Largemouth are also being taken on shallow flats in the creeks and bays near wood cover. These fish are being taken on topwater lures (early and late in the day), spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits and Texas rigged creature baits as they are feeding on schools of small fry. Our best bite this week overall has been on Carolina rigged creature baits, Texas rigged large worms and dragging football head jigs. The ledge bite has been good.
SMALLMOUTH BASS: Smallmouth are being taken early and late in the day on main lake gravel bars on jigs and Carolina rigged creature baits. Smallmouth are also being taken on main lake ledges on jigs and Carolina rigged creature baits. The numbers of fish are not great but some quality fish have been taken. Smallmouth are also being taken at night on rocky points and banks on Kentucky Lake with dark colored spinnerbaits and tube jigs.
Some of the more productive lures reported this week: Lucky Craft sammy in ghost pearl lemon, Strike King Splash baits in shad pattens, Bag5 custom painted medium and deep running crankbaits in blue glimmer, green gizzard shad and chartreuse gizzard shad, Strike King XD10 and XD6 series in sexy shad, parrot and chartreuse sexy shad, Rapala DT 16 in parrot, Big Hammer swim baits in sexy smelt and bay smelt, Stike King Sexy Spoons, Slong's spinnerbaits in blue glimmer, Charmer timber pups in green pumpkin and watermelon with purple flake, Charmer 10.5 inch ribbon tail worms in plum, D&L baby advantage and football head jigs in Cumberland craw and Oops patterns, Slong's football head jigs in mustard, and Strike King football head jigs in blue craw.
White Bass: White Bass are being taken along the river channel ledges and adjacent flats by verically fishing with inline spinners and small spoons as well as by trolling with small spinners behind deep diving crankbaits.
Bluegill: Some Bluegills are being taken around flooded brush in 2-4 ft of water by fishing with crickets and worms under bobbers and with split shot rigs on bottom baited with small jigs tipped with worms. Bluegills are also being taken around docks and on banks with overhanging trees early in the morning as they are feeding on Mayflies.
Catfish: Catfish are being on the main lake on river channel ledges in 20-30 ft of water by bottom bouncing shrimp and leach combinations and also on bottom rigs baited with cut baits and large shiners during periods of current flow.

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White Egret

Photo by Melodie Cunningham

Commonly mistaken for a heron, egrets can commonly be seen wading in shallow water near the lakes edge.